ricochet
pronunciation
How to pronounce ricochet in British English:
UK [ˈrɪkəʃeɪ]
How to pronounce ricochet in American English:
US [ˌrɪkəˈʃe, ˈrɪkəˌʃe]
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- Noun:
- a glancing rebound
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- Verb:
- spring back; spring away from an impact
Word Origin
- ricochet (v.)
- 1758, originally in a military sense, from French ricochet (n.) "the skipping of a shot, or of a flat stone on water" (see ricochet (n.). Related: Ricochetted; ricochetting.
- ricochet (n.)
- 1769, from ricochet (v.) or French ricochet "the skipping of a shot or of a flat stone on water," but in earliest French use (15c.) "verbal to-and-fro," and only in the phrase fable du ricochet, an entertainment in which the teller of a tale skillfully evades questions, and chanson du ricochet, a kind of repetitious song; of uncertain origin.
Example
- 1. There 's a ricochet mark on the wall .
- 2. You 're lucky it was a ricochet .
- 3. What if our ricochet left the scene ?
- 4. They ricochet through the trees with stunning precision .
- 5. Are there going to be sand particles that ricochet up if you shoot it ?